Track car project - including diary of a track n00b

The seat is in and the tyres are on!!! Unfortunately it’s been peeing it down since the tyres went on so we haven’t had a chance to really try them out yet!!!

Speak for yourself, I've driven it and it's bloomin' good fun! I'm worried that it's going to make my proper car feel like a lardy old bus.

I've also learned that all that soundproofing does actually do something. Without it you hear every tiny little stone that gets thrown off the tyres clattering on the underside of the car :D
 
Not sure on a cage yet. I'd like one purely because it'd complete the 'racecar' feel plus if we want harnesses it's really the way to go. On the other hand, it's not a requirement, it'll be extra cost and extra weight, it'll make getting insurance harder and as the car will be used on road occasionally I'm not too happy about having a cage and no crash hat.

Having driven the car a bit just these seats and a 3 point belt seem to do a decent job of holding you in place so I might just stick with that and not bother with harnesses at all. Alternatively if I can get one I might compromise and fit a halfcage with a harness bar.

On another note I've just put my mind at ease on one thing, had a quick run down to Snetterton where they've got a bike track day on and got them to do a quick noise test for me. Limit for the series is 102db and I've just been measured at 96-98.
 
looking really good guys. Kind of seems a bit of a pity not to have a rollcage when it is otherwise a pretty focussed trackday car.
 
Bet you regret taking the heater out after today's fun :p I'm still defrosting :D

Glad you had fun. Shame there was limited viewing round the track, but damned if I was gonna walk too far from the nice warm burger van :D
 
Regs say we need to have the door internals covered so for the time being they're staying. Plan is to get some ally sheet at some point and replace them with that.

Had a cracking day today though. Too tired to say too much so I'm sure I'll post more tomorrow. The morning was wet during which any of my 3 timed runs were good enough to give me the class lead, dried up a bit in the afternoon and unfortunately other people improved more than I did and I finished 3rd in class.
 
March 17th

So yesterday was the moment of truth!!!

We got up at 6:30 which is a feat in itself on a Sunday and set off to Waterbeach. As we knew the weather was going to be wet (bit of an understatement actually!), Phil had changed the tyres from our lovely new R888s to a set of Yokohama A539’s. They would at least help on the drive to Waterbeach and of course we took the R888s with us in case the weather got better.

Once we got to the track, we put waterproofs on straight away. The weather was horrendous. Freezing cold rain and a wind which built up speed on the way down the runway in the same way the Hawker Hunters had done in the past. Well, lets just say it was Cold with a capital C!!!

Our first task was to fit the stickers, as it is required by the Sprint Series that all cars carry the sponsor’s stickers. Have you ever tried to stick things to a car in the cold, wet and wind? My advice is don’t!!! We gave up on the sunstrip as that was just going to end in tears!!! Anyway, we sort of got most of them on in the end!

stickered1.jpg


stickered2.jpg


stickered3.jpg


At 9:30 we had the drivers briefing and then it was a mad dash to get in the cars for two sighting laps. As it was compulsory for every driver to do the sighting laps, Phil took his road car out onto the track too. I thought I best drive Humphrey though to see what it really felt like!

The track began with a layout of cones, with the idea that you go between them in a ‘gate’ sort of fashion. My first worry was that I’d get lost so first of all concentrated on remembering where they were. Then there was a fantastic sweeping left hander, opening out onto a long straight ending in a tight chicane. After that was a right hand sweep into a long straight for the finish. After the finish was a very long trek to get back to the paddock, which we were warned to drive slowly for, which made it take even longer!!

Once the sighting laps were done, it was time to start queuing for two untimed practice laps. Phil decided that as we were sharing a car, it was a good idea to out early otherwise we might find that we miss out on runs. As it happened, we did start to get behind, but the marshals realised this and allowed drivers sharing cars to jump the queue.

Phil went out first for his practice, so he could tell me what the track was like. I went to the start as it’s important to get the start right on a sprint, so I wanted to watch some others to try and pick up tips! Throughout the day, the ‘traffic light’ starting system kept failing and towards the end, the marshals were just doing a 5…4…3…2…1…GO! Which was lots of fun!!

Phil finally got to the front of the queue. For his first run the traffic light was working and he went on the green light. Through the first gate, and suddenly he braked sharply and locked up the front wheels! He had nearly missed the second gate! It was quite a sharp right from the first gate and it was out of his line of sight, so he had started heading for gate three before realising!!!

The way the track was laid out meant you could only see to the end of the coned section, and missed seeing the second half of the track and the finish. It wasn’t great for our spectators (thanks to all who showed up to support us!!). However I finally saw Humphrey driving up the runway towards to paddock, and then it was my turn!

I got a bit nervous waiting in the queue, but once I got to the front and started concentrating on my start, I felt fine. After the third gate I was loving it! However when I got back to the paddock, Phil said people had laughed at me because of how slow I was. I never expected to be a natural at this! I knew I needed to concentrate more and really get my foot down, brake less and start scaring myself!

We had three timed runs before a lunch break, and I was definitely feeling more and more confident each time. I was GUTTED when Phil brought my times back and saw that I was a good 20 seconds off the pace. However I had made a 7 second improvement from my first to last run! Phil was doing brilliantly and was first in the class.

racingphil.jpg


On to the afternoon, after a yummy chilli and chips from the catering van. As the track dried out, I got more and more confident, and just had more and more fun! Phil was debating a tyre change, but every time he thought about it, it would start to rain. However, in the dry, power becomes a higher factor than skill and Phil dropped down to 3rd in class – only a few tenths of a second behind the 2nd in class – something we might have been able to claw back with the other tyres. However, on the plus side he was the fastest in a N/A Mk1 so that’s an achievement! And before you ask, yes I was slowest. Still well off the pace although improving on my morning times by 14 seconds. I’m embarrassed to say that the Toyota Aygo actually beat my times 

So finally we were packing up and I was dreaming about the lovely hot bath I would have once I got home. My arms and shoulders ached, I never realised driving could be so painful. Maybe this is even something that is holding me back!

I’d had the most fun possible today. I really didn’t think I’d enjoy it as much as I did. I was pooping myself in the morning and nearly bottled it quite a few times. At least not I’m going to be confident from the start at the next sprint and hopefully will push myself further.

Phil and I have booked a trackday at Snetterton next week, and also a tuition session each, which I’m sure I’ll benefit from immensely. In the meantime, Humphrey is being used as a daily driver as Sakura is still at the bodyshop!
 
Doesn't matter that you were the slowest there matey - someone has to be last. And there are loads who will never even get as far as buying the car to start with, never mind competing.

Keep it up and have fun!
 
Doesn't matter that you were the slowest there matey - someone has to be last. And there are loads who will never even get as far as buying the car to start with, never mind competing.

Keep it up and have fun!

Exactly! Only I know what a sense of acheivement it was for me to even get in the car and out on the track! I don't feel sad cos I came last, I feel good cos i got out there and improved myself throughout the day :D

Thanks for the pics Nutcase. The top one is me!!!

Official photos have been purchased, and I can't wait to see them!
 
Final results (we were numbers 56 and 57 in class D)

final-results-Round-1.jpg


Wish it had stayed wet now, just had a quick look down the times and reckon I was about 15th overall after the first run :)
 
25th March 2008

Just got the official pics back from the photographer. They are cool! He even got shots of our road car when Phil had to take him out on track. Hopefully later in the season we will have some nice pics of Sakura!

Just uploaded a few.

My ‘driving face’ is either a mad grin as seen below or quite a dumb gawp…

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Phil giving it some!

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Me giving it some off the start line muahaha!!! Phil is in the background of this shot. He says he had been to the loo as I was in a long queue. Just as he came out and started walking he heard a car wheelspinning off the line. He thought ‘wow they are trying’ then realised it was me. He was proud :D

wheelspin.jpg
 
Some of the other stuff that was there to give an idea of the diversity:

Aygo:
aygo.jpg


Celicas:
(There were plenty of other ST185s and ST205s but I just included the liveried ones because they look more interesting :p)
st165.jpg


thor celica.jpg


daitoku celica.jpg


loctite celica.jpg


gen 7 celica.jpg


Corollas:
AE92 Corolla GTi, was second in our class. Actually driven by someone else from work although I didn't know him beforehand.
ae92.jpg


Fensport Corolla - Set fastest time of the day.
fensport corolla.jpg


Lexus:
lexus.jpg
 
MR2s:
Just for Zip, a mk1.5
mk1point5.jpg


mk2.jpg


Mk2V6 which I almost beat (Will get him next time :p)
mk2v6.jpg


Sera:
sera.jpg


Starlets:
Mad RWD 4A-GE powered starlet, conversion was only finished the night before the event. Spent most of the event sideways. Won our class.
starlet.jpg


ep82 starlet.jpg


ep91 starlet.jpg
 
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